Anna Kertesz
Biography
Overview
Anna Kertesz has extensive experience in merger clearance, counseling, and civil and criminal litigation. After her experience at White & Case, Anna served as an attorney at the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), returning to the Firm in 2016.
This combination of government and private practice experience allows Anna to provide practical, strategic insights for clients. In 2022, Anna won "Best in Antitrust/Competition" for Women in Business Law awards. The Legal 500 US ranked Anna as "Recommended" three years in a row and noted, "Thanks to her time spent at the FTC, Anna Kertesz has deep knowledge of merger investigations in oil & gas as well as pharmaceutical sectors." In 2021, GCR – Who’s Who Legal named Anna a "Future Leader" in Competition.
Anna regularly defends clients in proposed and consummated mergers before the US Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) and the FTC in a broad range of industries, including healthcare, food products, food service, petroleum and technology. She also defends government allegations of price-fixing and bid-rigging in various industries, including transportation and construction materials.
As an attorney at the FTC, Anna led or was actively involved in numerous in-depth merger investigations in the oil & gas and pharmaceutical industries. Her involvement spanned various aspects of complex merger investigations, from conducting the initial investigation through obtaining consent agreements. Anna also has experience in market manipulation enforcement activities relating to conduct in the oil & gas industry.
Anna is a frequent speaker and author on various antitrust merger issues.
cum laude
Experience
Gained antitrust clearance in the US of Metso Corporation's combination with Finnish rival Outotec. Expedited clearance was obtained, despite the deal combining two businesses that the US authorities forced Metso to separate in a prior enforcement action
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in its acquisition of cystic fibrosis drug, CTP-656, from Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for up to US$250 million
Anthem, Inc. in its US$54 billion acquisition of Cigna Corporation
XO Communications, LLC in its US$1.8 billion sale to Verizon Communications
Liberty Dialysis in its acquisition of Renal Advantage in 2010 to create the third-largest US dialysis provider, and represented Liberty Dialysis in its US$1.7 billion acquisition in 2012 by Fresenius, the largest US dialysis provider
Grupo Bimbo in its US$949 million acquisition of Sara Lee Corp.'s North American bakery business
Pilot Travel Centers LLC in its US$1.8 billion acquisition of Flying J Inc.'s travel plaza business before the US FTC. Recognized as one of "The Most Innovative M&A Transactions in the US in 2010" by the Financial Times and named "Turnaround Deal of the Year (Large Market)" and "Divestiture Deal of the Year" for 2010 by The M&A Advisor
WebCT, Inc. before the DOJ Antitrust Division in its merger with rival Blackboard, Inc.
The Future of Global Merger Control – Spotlight on Tech and Pharma in the US, UK, EU, and Middle East, September 23, 2021, The Legal 500
Corporate Counseling Committee Antitrust Update, December 2019, ABA Section of Antitrust Law
"Antitrust and Innovation: US Scrutiny of Tech Ripples Across Industry," December 2019, Lexology webinar
"Local Markets Issues in Merger Review", November 2018: ABA Section of Antitrust Law
"Turf Wars: Intensified Antitrust Agency Clearance battles and Implications for Your Clients," The ABA Section of Antitrust Law: The Antitrust Counselor, Issue 14.2, February 2020 (with Christine N. Chang and Naari Ha)
"Revised Horizontal Merger Guidelines, One Year In," The Deal Magazine, April 2012 (with Noah A. Brumfield)
Three Rules and a Constitution: Consumer Protection Finds Its Limits in Competition Policy, 72 Antitrust L.J. 943 (2005) (co-author)
